Dear Ranger Bert, We believe you have misspelled the family in question. This is a Jewel Beetle in the family Buprestidae, and we wish there was a dorsal view that clearly shows the elytra. The first matching image we located was on Shutterstock where it is identified as “possibly Sternocera nitens or S. Brahmina [sic].” We found a different image on Alamy with an identical identification, but alas, no other verifiable images in our quick search. Mounted specimens are pictured on Coleopsoc.

Subject: Large flying beetle Spain Geographic location of the bug: Granada province, Andalucia, southern Spain Date: 08/11/2018 Time: 04:34 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Struggling to identify this large, flying beetle in southern Spain. Predominanlty black but with distinctive mottle-like markings. This one is about an inch but I’ve seen ones maybe 2 inches at their largest. They seem to like our cherry tree saplings if that’s helpful. When you approach they crawl round the other side of the branch – making photo-taking difficult (!) and if that doesn’t work they drop off the tree into the leaf litter. They appear around July/August time. Any ideas? How you want your letter signed: Tom, Spain

Capnodis tenebrionis

Dear Tom, This is a Metallic Borer Beetle in the family Buprestidae, and we have identified it asCapnodis tenebrionis thanks to this image on FlickR. According to Koppert Biological Systems: “Capnodis tenebrionis is one of the most important pests in cultivated stone fruit (f.e. cherries, apricots and almonds) and in some cases seed fruit (apples and pears). … Both adult beetles and larvae damage plants. Adults feed on twigs and young branches mainly causing problems in tree nurseries and young plants. The greatest damage is caused by the larvae. Immediately after hatching they penetrate into the roots of the trees and feed on the cortex. They form long sinuous galleries full of sawdust. Young trees die as a result of this damage. A few larvae can also cause the death of an adult tree in 1 or 2 years.” A suggestion for the organic control of Capnodis tenebrionis is also provided on that site. Good luck saving your cherry trees.

Hi there Daniel, Thank you very much for the speedy response and identification. Looks like my cherry trees are in for it. Have you got a paypal account for donations? – Signing up for patreon.com and going through the options is quite time-consuming. I’d just like to make a quick donation in gratitude for the response. Thanks, Tom

Subject: Green Metallic Bug Geographic location of the bug: Washington state Date: 08/06/2018 Time: 04:55 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: My son found this outside in our back yard. Is about 3/4″. Please help identify. We’ve never seen anything like this. How you want your letter signed: Alicia Rinehart

Western Cedar Borer

Dear Alicia, Your images perfectly exemplify why Beetles in the family Buprestidae are known as Jewel Beetles or Metallic Borer Beetles. We have identified your individual as the Western Cedar Borer, Trachykele blondeli, thanks to this image on BugGuide.

Jewel Beetle: Trachykele blondeli

Thank you so much Daniel!

You are most welcome Alicia. This is only the second example we have posted of this gorgeous Jewel Beetle.

I have never seen one before. Any idea if they cause any damage to trees? I’m trying to find more information.

They are native, so they have natural predators. We have not read anything about them being a serious threat to trees.

Subject: Concerned…bug found on my daughter Geographic location of the bug: Ga Date: 06/24/2018 Time: 09:31 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Help…..is this an assassin bug or something else. ? It did not bite her. But upon research, I freaked about Chagas disease… How you want your letter signed: CarriHowell

Sculptured PIne Borer

Dear Carri, This Sculptured Pine Borer in the genus Chalcophora will most definitely NOT pass Chagas Disease to your daughter.

Subject: Large egg-laying beetle on fallen tree Geographic location of the bug: Pollock Pines, California Date: 06/20/2018 Time: 07:49 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Bugman, I spotted this large-ish beetle on a fallen tree, sticking its ovipositor in crevices in the wood. What is this bug? How you want your letter signed: John

Jewel Beetle

Dear John, This is a Metallic Borer Beetle or Jewel Beetle in the family Buprestidae, but we are not having any luck determining a species for you. Do you know what type of tree you sighted it upon?

Hi, Daniel.

Sorry, I wouldn’t have known the tree type but I do have footage of the beetle probing about the wood.Metallic Borer or Jewel beetle – are they bad?

I ask because this photo was taken at a lake where hundreds of dead trees have been cut down apparently due to a beetle invasion

Thanks all the same.

John

Daniel,

I looked about for the beetle responsible for tree deaths at the local lake. It’s a bark beetle.

Although the beetle’s destruction of trees may not be a terrible thing?

Dear Amara, This is a Metallic Borer Beetle in the family Buprestidae, and family members often have beautiful colors and are called Jewel Beetles. Your individual is a Sculptured Pine Borer in the genus Calcophora, most likely the Northeastern Sculptured Pine Borer, Chalcophora liberta, which we identified on BugGuide where it is described as being: “from brilliant metallic coppery orange to dull black; extremely variable in size, dorsal sculpturing, and density of ventral setae; readily distinguished by truncate or rounded elytral apices, small size, and usually bright metallic, orange-green color.”